It's Not Easy – But It Is Sure Worth It

I’m here in Austin where we had a sweet Father’s Day with my son and family. My son is a terrific father and I like to think that he is because of his dad who loved him so much and modeled a loving father and mentor to him. Father’s Day prompted the memories of so many joys my husband and I had in welcoming him, our firstborn, to this world.

We were married for just three months when my bold and daring, young husband announced that we should start our family. “We want to be young parents and grandparents” was his rationale. Indeed, we were just babies when we had our babies (we were 18 & 19 with the first, and 20 & 21 with the second). What a contrast we were to how “on purpose” couples are in planning their families these days: finish college; secure a well-paying job with great benefits; plenty of savings and security -- then they're ready to start their family. Not so with us -- two kids that were inexperienced in life, child-rearing, business, and finances. But, we had plenty of faith, self-confidence, determination, ambition, and most of all, profound love for each other. We were flying by the seat of our pants……and what a flight it was!

My first pregnancy was beyond uncomfortable. I was an office receptionist, working to support my “college-man” husband AND we had a baby on the way. Morning sickness that came with nausea and hanging out in the ladies’ room, was no excuse at my job. I’d greet visitors as they entered the building and then I'd make a mad dash for the ladies room. There were the preparations for our little one, moving from a small one bedroom apartment to leasing a little 2-bedroom home, dreaming, and THEN, the labor and delivery….CRAZY pain that seemed to last forever (really, only hours), that eventually became CRAZY sweet. That baby boy, who we only dreamed of having one day, rushed in and stole our hearts. We were completely in love with that little man. My husband was the proudest dad and assumed his new dad role in life with fervor. But it wasn’t easy.

Why am I sharing this little excerpt from our life story with you? Because it’s a story of puppy love that turned into real, authentic love that knew no bound, child-like faith, dreams, taking risks, and making lots of mistakes. It’s a story of God loving us so much, that He even made our mistakes to prosper. It’s a story of believing that what God starts in our hearts….He is faithful to help us complete it. It’s the same story of anyone who starts out with a dream – perhaps a CRAZY idea that is driven by passion and determination. And, along the way, in an effort for the “birth” of that idea -- whether it’s a business, a ministry, an invention, or heart’s desire -- there is tremendously hard work, pain, waiting, dreaming, and struggle….but there’s no turning back. You’ve given your ALL for this “baby”, and though the months of preparation, dreaming, getting ready for the launch or the birth -- seems like it’s taking FOREVER…..in due season, when it seems it’s not going to happen, the greatest PUSH of your lifetime is required, and then that “baby” you’ve dreamed of having, will make its debut and your dream becomes reality.

Today, I urge you to keep pressing in, forging on, stretching greater, and “Be not weary in well-doing, for, in due season, you will reap if you faint not.” (Galatians 6:9). This "baby" you’re carrying will get here. Be faithful to the dream and vision. Do your part as God does His. Soon, your baby will rush in and, all you’ve worked so hard for will be here. The "baby" may not look anything like you thought he would, but he will be just the way God created him to be JUST FOR YOU! When it does, all the pain, all the sleepless nights, all the worry and anxiety, will be something of the past. I’m not telling you it’s going to be easy! I am telling you it’s ALL going to be worth it.

It May Not Be Easy...But It Will Be Worth It!

Nine months of pregnancy – twice – carrying and delivering my two precious babies -- wasn't EASY! Nausea, swollen feet, eye twitching (yes, that was a side effect with both of my two darlings), lack of sleep, overall discomfort, and then the pain of the delivery……no, it wasn’t easy. But I am telling you…..it WAS sure worth it!

My husband and I built homes, bought homes, leased homes – big ones, little ones, mobile ones and moved to Oklahoma from Texas, from Oklahoma to Canada, from Canada back to Oklahoma (and many moves in those places and with those moves, were what seemed to be daunting tasks of packing and then unpacking. At the time it seemed overwhelming, but eventually once we were all settled into that wonderful home, each time, we said, “It wasn’t easy, but it was sure worth it!”

Young kids that we were when we got married, we had many times of "sibling" rivalry (yes, quite often we were more like siblings than mature adults). We had plenty of opportunities to "throw in the towel" because it seemed there was no way this marriage would last another day. But, our foundation was built on God and His Word, so we pressed in with a never quit attitude and found that "sweet spot" that only God could provide to His kids who wouldn't quit. After standing strong, unwavering in our commitment, every day our love grew stronger and stronger and sweeter and sweeter until 44 years of "til death do us part" passed by so quickly. Love isn't always easy, but it is so worth it!"

We worked incessantly on huge projects that required a lot of capital, stealth strategic planning, development, sacrifice of family and personal time, a relentless spirit of “never giving up”, and after countless hours of diligence to our tasks, our dreams became reality, We exclaimed, “It wasn’t easy, but it was sure worth it!”

I spent hours upon hours training to do a Half Marathon. Getting in shape, eating nutritionally, and running all those miles consistently for months, and pressing into yet another mile marker, often made me wonder “What was I thinking, when I said ‘Yes, train me” to my trainer.” No, it wasn’t easy, but when that Half Marathon medal was placed around my neck (4 Half Marathons to date), I proclaimed “It wasn’t easy, but it was sure worth it!”

And, I’m telling you, today, whatever you may be facing…it may not be easy, but if you carry that baby (your dreams and vision) to full term and NEVER EVER consider “aborting”, you will look back one day and say, “It wasn't easy, but indeed it WAS worth it ALL!” So, keep on keeping on. You, too, will say....I survived... I'm alive...it was so worth it all!"

Gone Fishing – Gone Home

I don’t endorse too many places just because my experience may not be your experience, but for years we’ve come to Marvel Family Trout Camp. And, sincerely, it is a little piece of heaven on earth, but that depends on what your “heaven” might look like. Like I said earlier, we call it the “Red Neck Yacht Club”. You’ll see every kind of RV, camper, tent, 5th Wheel and Motor Home imaginable. When my Honey and I were looking for a place to take our oldest grandsons for a fun summer outing, we ran across this place. Needless to say, it was our little “home away from home” that was filled with so much fun, laughter, with making lots of memories. So much so, that we continue to want to make more.

The first time we came here to check it out, we had a conversion van and my Honey and I pulled into a space right on the Illinois River. We heard the water lapping against the rocks, saw all the potential of family fun (swimming pool, basketball, tether ball, outdoor theater, miniature golf, craft shop – but best of all FISH, fishing and fishing some more. That night it became our little oasis. Now, for 10 years, this has been the place where we recall memories after memories.

Night before last, the kids were making s’mores, playing in the campfire, and laughing and having a grand old time. Larry, Staci and I went for a walk – passed by all those campsites and saw where other people made this their little oasis too. What I saw in Larry and Staci was they REALLY got away from it all. They had a therapeutic time of letting go of technology, business and all the routines they are so involved in on a daily basis. Here, it's early rising to wake up to a new day of fishing, meeting other fishermen who exchange stories and tips for catching the “big ones”. No make-up and dressed-to-the-nines needed here. It’s sheer simplicity, maybe even wearing the same jeans two days in a row. LOL! Doesn’t matter. No one judges us here.

I loved it last night, after we had enjoyed our beer-battered trout and striped bass fish fry, we sat around and talked – no rush – no need to. It was family time. Staci asked the question of the kids. Tell us what you’ll be looking for in a wife or husband someday. When she saw Payton looking at his cell phone, Staci said, “Payton why are you looking at your cell phone when we’re having family time?” He said, “I’m telling you what I’ll be looking for in a wife.” Then he read what he had pulled up…Proverbs 31 – the virtuous woman. Smart kid. Then it was Will’s turn, and he said, “I want a woman that really worships God with her hands lifted and not with T-Rex arms, and I want a woman who can clean fish.” We laughed because Staci helped Larry clean a huge mess of fish today. Fun times. Great memories. Now in the record book!

No, this place may not fit into your idea of an oasis, but for us, it holds memories that continue to mount up – even to the point we know Payton and Alexia will want to bring their kids back here some day! Are you taking time out to make memories with your little ones – so much so, they’ll want a “repeat” with their kids. I promise you. It is worth it!